Physical Appearance: The Tosa Inu is a massive, large boned and athletic dog with surprising agility for their size.

Temperament/Personality: The Tosa Inu is very protective of their owners and are known for their patience and devotion to their families. They are very aggressive with other dogs and are not considered a good choice for a home which includes other dogs. This breed is not for the first time dog owner, this is a very large dog and who must know that his owner is in control at all times. Though they are considered good with children but are very large and should be well supervised around them.

Care: The Tosa Inu is not a drooling dog like other large breeds. It requires minimal grooming. Brush the dog's hair occasionally and bathe it when necessary.

Training: The Tosa Inu requires obedience training because of it's size. The earlier in life the better.

Activity: The Tosa Inu requires moderate exercise. A large fenced yard is essential for this large dog.

Life Span: The Tosa Inu lives an average life of 10-12 years.

Litter Size: The Tosa Inu has an average litter size of 6-12 puppies.

Country of Origin: The Tosa Inu originated in Japan.

Brief History: The Tosa Inu was developed expressly for the purpose of arena fighting and is sometimes called the ""Sumo wrestler of the dog world"". It is said to be the product of the selective breeding of the early Kochi dog with the best of the Western imports, including the Bulldog, Mastiff, Bull Terrier, German Pointer and the Great Dane. This combined the size and strength of the Western dogs with the courage, loyalty and fighting abilities of the Japanese dogs.